CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 782

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

REC

AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[35754]

No. 1.

(REGE 3 NOV09

[September 27.]

SECTION 6,

780

Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 27,)

St. Petersburgh, September 14, 1909.

(No. 500.) Sir,

I HAD heard that the convention recently concluded between Japan and China had given rise to some misgivings and uneasiness in official quarters here, and I took advantage of an opportunity to-day to ask M. Sazonow what was his opinion as to the convention. His Excellency said that as to the details the Russian Government had, of course, no grounds for taking any exception, although the outcome of the convention would greatly strengthen the strategical position of Japan; but he was uneasy lest this convention should be the prelude to a closer understanding between China and Japan, which might even develop into an alliance, and this would be a most serious matter to Russia. He had, he said, touched vaguely on this subject in conversation with the Japanese Ambassador, but the latter had immediately given him the most positive assurances that Japan was harbouring no designs of an aggressive character, and was only too anxious to live on the best of terms with Russia. I told him I had just seen the Japanese Minister, who had treated the convention with China as a mere detail and with a limited scope, and that I thought Japan could not be possibly contemplating any unfriendly disposition towards Russia. She had ample occupation at home in various directions, and I was sure that she desired peace and rest. mind the possible danger in the immediate future did not lie in the Far East. M. Sazonow did not seem to agree entirely with this view.

I have, &c.

A. NICOLSON.

To my

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